Thursday night, downtown Salt Lake City will be the center of attention thanks to a handful of big Christmas productions and events, as well as a Utah Jazz home game against the Golden State Warriors, who bring with them the best record in the NBA.

The bustling night is the kind of vibrancy that excites stakeholders in the success of the downtown area, but too much of a good thing could cause complications for motorists — and police are warning downtown visitors to plan ahead.

Utahns will also be flocking to the "White Christmas" production at the new Eccles Theater, which holds more than 2,500 spectators, and viewing Ballet West's "Nutcracker" at the nearly 2,000-seat Capitol Theater.

That's in addition to a packed Vivint Smart Home Arena for the Jazz-Warriors battle. The arena holds 19,911, although it wasn't yet a sold out game Wednesday night.

Those events alone could bring in more than 45,000 people.

Add in the visitors who will be taking in the lights at Temple Square, the parents and classmates of the various high school choral groups scheduled to perform on the Temple Square campus, plus all the shoppers who unfailingly make City Creek Center and The Gateway hotspots during the holidays, and Thursday appears to be primed to test the holiday spirit of drivers and pedestrians alike.

"Just be patient. (People) need to understand that when you come downtown during the holidays, there's a lot going on," Ungricht said. "You've got I don't know how many people coming in."

Other Thursday night events that might bring traffic through parts of downtown to the University of Utah campus include a performance of "Oliver!" by the Pioneer Theatre Company, and the band Lower Lights will play their distinctive style of Christmas music in a concert at Kingsbury Hall.

Weather is another reason to make travel plans in advance and exercise patience. Snowfall is expected throughout the afternoon and evening in Salt Lake City and throughout the Wasatch Front, according to KSL-TV meteorologist Kevin Eubank.

Despite possible complications due to weather and traffic, Shawn Stinson is confident the busy night downtown will be a "boon to the local attractions."

"We get pretty amped up and excited for a culmination of events when it all comes together," said Stinson, spokesman for Visit Salt Lake. "Salt Lake really is that lively, happening scene."

Stinson focuses much of his time attracting tourists from across the country to Salt Lake City. He said nights like Thursday, even though most of the big events are drawing in-state visitors, are part of what makes the city so easy to sell.

"We are thrilled that there gets to be such an energy in the downtown area, because we can shout from the rooftops how great downtown Salt Lake is. But when the locals get out there they become our best messengers," he said.

Salt Lake City is a Christmas destination for several reasons. Stinson credits a "mix of the old and the new," mentioning the mainstays such as the famous Temple Square lights, plus a growing number of restaurants, the proximity of City Creek and increased accessibility over public transit.

"It's not just the new rests and bars that obviously cater to one crowd (only). We're family friendly, it's clean, it's safe, it's beautifully lit up," he said. "It's a festive, good time. Utahns in general, we're pretty hearty so we (can) do it in harder temperatures."

The Utah Transit Authority will be put additional train cars on its Blue and Green TRAX lines Thursday night to help with the crowds, confirmed UTA spokesman Remi Barron.

"Extra bodies" from law enforcement will also be doing their part to make sure visitors get from place to place as smoothly as possible, Ungricht said.

"There will be an added presence in the downtown area to assist with these events," he said.

But Ungricht also asked for the public's help in preventing unwelcome holiday surprises, adding he is always taken aback at how many shoppers and event-goers leave themselves vulnerable to theft.

"Lock your cars up, don't leave valuables in plain sight," he said. "Try to put your stuff in the trunk where it's not visible. Be mindful of who might be watching what you're doing (while concealing items)."

Criminals are desperate during the holiday season and will take risks to steal people's Christmas gifts, he warned. "That's when most (incidents) get ramped up a little bit with people breaking in, stealing."

But most people don't believe they will be victimized.

"I think there's this false sense of security," Ungricht said.

Above all, motorists need to remember to share the road while making their way through downtown traffic, he said, and — again — be patient.

"People just need to be really aware of the pedestrians," Ungricht said. "It'll be dark."

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Wed, 07 Dec 2016 20:41:00 MSTChristmas descends on Salt Lake City as Temple Square, Gallivan Center awash in lightshttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668019/Christmas-descends-on-Salt-Lake-City-as-Temple-Square-Gallivan-Center-awash-in-lights.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668019/Christmas-descends-on-Salt-Lake-City-as-Temple-Square-Gallivan-Center-awash-in-lights.html?pg=all
The Christmas spirit blanketed downtown Salt Lake City on Friday evening when thousands of spectators were treated to the...
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SALT LAKE CITY — The Christmas spirit blanketed downtown Salt Lake City on Friday evening when thousands of spectators were treated to the season's unveiling of the Christmas lights at Temple Square and the Gallivan Center.

A cheer went up at Temple Square at 5:25 p.m. when the famed Christmas lights came to life, kicking off a busy holiday season in downtown Salt Lake City. The spectacle attracted out of state visitors and locals alike.

Benson and McKenzie Rice, from Centerville, visited with their 10-week-old daughter to introduce her to her first Christmas.

"She loves lights," Benson Rice said. "We were kind of excited to see how she would react."

McKenzie Rice said she appreciates the spiritual tenor of Temple Square's Christmas celebration.

"It's good (for getting) in the Christmas spirit," she said. "In a sense, it's sharing the joy of Christ in Christmas."

At the Gallivan Center, Kris Fielding happily took photos of family members as they made their rounds on the outdoor ice skating rink there, under thousands of Christmas lights arranged throughout the plaza.

"It's beautiful, it's very beautiful, and a fun, great atmosphere," said Fielding, who is in town from Washington state to visit her daughter.

Fielding was also grateful for the relatively mild temperatures at the outdoor rink, where visitors were also treated to a performance from American Ice Theatre and children met with Santa Claus.

"It's a perfect night, it's gorgeous out here," she said.

Fielding and her family planned to enjoy the sights at Temple Square as well before calling it a night.

"We're trying to take in all this Christmas festivity before we head back home," she said.

Between the Gallivan Center and Temple Square, roughly 350,000 Christmas lights flickered on for the first time Friday, the center reported. Aside from those displays, downtown Salt Lake also bustled with a constant stream of shoppers at City Creek Center, musicians playing Christmas music on several street corners and a contingent of savory smells from busy food trucks.

Bryce and Stacey Benson, from Murray, were on hand to see the Temple Square lights with their children, Gabby and Tanner. The family wanted to change gears to "the spirit of Christmas instead of the spirit of shopping," Bryce Benson said.

"It's a good change of pace," he said.

Stacey Benson said her family had done some holiday shopping on Thanksgiving, which freed up their schedules Friday to see the lights. They stopped and enjoyed some Christmas window displays at City Creek before making their way to Temple Square, after which they planned to go out to dinner together.

"It's a good start to the holiday season," she said.

Mike and Kristin Anderson live in Salt Lake City, but have never previously gone to Temple Square for the opening night of the season. They visited with their three children Friday, Kristin Anderson said, in hopes of making a new family tradition.

"It's fascinating. ... They love the Christmas lights, so it's fun to do with them," she said.

The unveiling of the lights is just a taste of holiday offerings at Temple Square and the nearby conference center, where in December the Mormon Tabernacle will perform its annual Christmas Concert and the LDS Church's First Presidency will give its traditional Christmas Devotional.

School and church choirs, as well as other musical groups, are scheduled to perform in various venues throughout Temple Square daily through Dec. 23. Its Christmas lights will continue to light up the night through Jan. 3.

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Fri, 25 Nov 2016 21:23:00 MSTPhotos: Local artists create holiday candy window displays at Macy'shttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865667479/Photos-Local-artists-create-holiday-candy-window-displays-at-Macys.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865667479/Photos-Local-artists-create-holiday-candy-window-displays-at-Macys.html?pg=all
Starting in July, Macy&#8217;s City Creek Center enlisted six local artists to each design and create an oversized holiday...
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Children peer through the windows at candy ornaments during an unveiling celebration for the Macy's holiday candy windows at the City Creek Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday.

Starting in July, Macy’s City Creek Center enlisted six local artists to each design and create an oversized holiday ornament made of candy: Jeff Rollo, Kathy Tran, Matt Marcusatio, Pamela Layton McMurtry, Rachel and Rebekah Smith, and Zach Albrecht.

The unveiling of holiday candy windows is a tradition that dates back to the early 1970s and marks the official kickoff celebration of the holiday season in Salt Lake City. The local tradition originated at ZCMI in the 1970s. Since 2013, Macy’s at City Creek Center has sponsored the community tradition by featuring local artists who create and install oversized, handcrafted ornaments decked out with hundreds of pounds of candy.

Macy’s provided the selected local artists with supplies, including a 42-inch styrofoam ball, to create a holiday-themed ornament.

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Thu, 17 Nov 2016 20:38:00 MSTSteve Young's new book 'QB' is 'what I wanted my kids to know'http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865665520/Steve-Youngs-new-book-QB-is-what-I-wanted-my-kids-to-know.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865665520/Steve-Youngs-new-book-QB-is-what-I-wanted-my-kids-to-know.html?pg=all
Steve Young, the former BYU and NFL quarterback, and one of the most recognized names among LDS Church members, has published...
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Steve Young's recently published autobiography, "QB: My Life Behind the Spiral" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $30), started out as a personal family history project.

The idea came one day when Young's 10-year-old son recounted a story he'd heard at school involving his father and former San Francisco great Joe Montana. But the story wasn't true, Young said, and he realized there was a "ton" that his four children didn't know about him.

That small episode sparked a long process that eventually led Young to connect with author Jeff Benedict, who then assisted the former Brigham Young University and NFL quarterback in writing and publishing a transparent and insightful 389-page narrative of his life.

Young admitted he was a "reluctant author" and not interested in using his story to entertain others, but only to benefit his family. Twice he declined to publish the manuscript before trusted friends persuaded him to just do it.

"I was really doing it to inform the children of what happened to dad. You are reading what I wanted my kids to know," Young said in a telephone interview with the Deseret News. "I trusted in a few people's opinions that the book was worthwhile. If something is useful (to others), I'm interested in that."

"QB" not only recounts Young's challenging and successful football career in great detail, but it also reveals how he suffered from separation anxiety from his childhood into his professional career. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Young also references notable experiences related to his LDS faith, such as why he didn't serve a mission, private meetings with apostles, taking part in a "60 Minutes" interview with then-LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, receiving priesthood blessings, wanting to find and marry his soul mate in the temple, living the church's health code and striving to be a positive example, among many others.

Young was never able to consistently write in a journal, although he started at least 15 volumes over the years.

"I would get worn out trying to relive my experiences. I needed to move forward. It was hard for me," he said.

As a result, Young's advice for journal-keepers is to jot down a few lines each day with just enough detail to recall what happened later and "fill in the blanks," he said.

In addition to Young's memories, Benedict filled in the blanks by interviewing teammates, coaches, friends and family members. The writer's efforts yielded many stories the quarterback had forgotten and was grateful to have, Young said.

Looking back, Young can acknowledge seeing the hand of the Lord in his life, especially through the many "angels," mentors and trusted friends who opened their hearts to him at pivotal times, particularly as he battled with anxiety, Young said.

When asked if he would change anything, Young said there were a lot of little things he might do differently in specific situations, but he wouldn't touch the big decisions, such as going to BYU or signing with the L.A. Express, he said.

His favorite part of the book comes near the end when he describes meeting his wife, Barb, getting married and starting a family.

"My kids will connect with the end because that's where they enter," Young said. "I wanted to connect my life before them with them. That's why the end is the most enjoyable part."

"QB," available at all the major bookstores and online, is full of never-before-shared stories. This is a small sample of things you may not know about Steve Young, taken from his "Life Behind the Spiral."

Got milk?

When Young was in high school, he made a major decision that served him the rest of his life.

The first time he showed up for a party, his teammates took him to the refrigerator and opened the door to show him a bottle of milk. "That's for you, Young," one of them said.

"I laughed. So did they. It became standard procedure for them to have milk on hand at every party I attended," Young wrote. "They never pressured me to drink. When my buddies held a beer-guzzling contest, I guzzled milk. It's the one contest I always lost. Apparently, it's a lot easier to guzzle beer than milk."

For the rest of his life, whenever Young was in a setting with alcohol, he drank milk. When the ad agency for the "Got Milk?" campaign learned about Young choosing milk over beer, he became the first athlete to appear on a poster with a milk mustache, according to the book.

Accident survivor

In April 1983, Young was preparing to fly home when his former bishop's wife asked if he would ride back to Connecticut with their daughter, Jill Simmons, so she didn't have to make the trip alone. Young agreed. She was like a little sister to him, he wrote.

After driving all night, they stopped for breakfast at McDonald's in Nebraska. Then Simmons took the wheel and Young fell asleep. A short time later, he awoke to see his friend slumped against the driver's side window. Then the vehicle swerved off the pavement and began to roll.

Young wasn't wearing a seat belt but was uninjured. Simmons died. While the quarterback carried the guilt of his friend's death for some time, he knows his survival was a miracle, and the memory served as motivation to live a good life.

"I felt like something was shielding me," Young wrote. "I asked myself: How are you going to live the rest of your life? I thought about the car repeatedly flipping over, and how I felt like I was floating in a pocket of air. And how miraculously, I was unscathed. I took this as a message — 'You've been spared, and you'd better figure out why.' I felt obligated to live my life in a way that would never dishonor that experience."

Special friendship

When the San Francisco 49ers traded Joe Montana to Kansas City in April 1993, Young's anxiety spiked. He worried that if he didn't deliver a Super Bowl victory, the fans would run him out of town.

To help Young get away from the pressure, a friend suggested he visit a place he'd never been — the Holy Land. Not only did Young have a spiritual experience touring key places in Jesus Christ's ministry, but he found friends for life in Truman and Ann Madsen, his hosts at Brigham Young University's Jerusalem Center. Truman Madsen, a gospel scholar, author and lecturer, was the center's director.

In the book's acknowledgments, Young thanked the Madsens for their spiritual guidance and friendship.

"Many of the bedrock testimonies that I hold dear were solidified as we walked the dusty roads of Israel together," Young wrote.

The feeling was mutual, said Barnard N. Madsen, who authored his father's biography, "The Truman G. Madsen Story." The Madsens became mentors and confidants to Young and welcomed him into their family like another son. They attended some of Young's NFL games and his wedding in the Kona Hawaii Temple. Truman Madsen provided Young with several priesthood blessings at key moments in his life and helped Young bless his babies. The two men spoke together once about their experiences in the Holy Land in what became a Deseret Book audio talk titled "The Philosopher and the Quarterback." Young often visited the Madsens in Provo and was at Truman's bedside shortly before he died in 2009. Young spoke at the funeral, Ann Madsen said.

Ann Madsen said Young has always been gracious and kind. He's been especially supportive since her husband's death.

"From the moment we met Steve, we've had a precious friendship that has persisted throughout our lives," Ann Madsen said. "There have been times since Truman died when Steve has been my wise friend in reminding me of the eternal covenants I have made."

Young and the Madsens both spoke of one memorable experience that wasn't included in Young's book. On one occasion some years ago, Young was invited to the Madsen home to meet former BYU basketball star and LDS convert, 6-foot-11 Croatian Kresimir Cosic. Young had never met the "giant, charismatic man," but shaking his massive hand and hearing him talk about the gospel in a thick Croatian accent was a wonderful and inspiring experience.

"Kresimir was a gem. He had such an interesting history and story," Young said. "His conversion and testimony were impactful to me."

Being an example

As one of the most recognized faces in the NFL and the LDS Church, Young never wanted to do anything to draw negative attention to himself or his faith.

"I always considered it a privilege that carried with it a responsibility to carry myself — both in public and private — in a way that inspired kids to work hard and treat people with respect," Young wrote. "I was also sensitive to the fact that I had so many Mormon youth looking up to me."

He turned down a $1 million a year offer to be a spokesman for Coca-Cola because the products are heavily caffeinated.

"I wanted to steer clear of endorsing products that had addictive properties," Young wrote. "My friends thought I was crazy for turning down $1 million."

Young was invited to appear in an episode of "Beverly Hills 90210." He reviewed the script and felt it had an inspiring storyline so he did it. Later, he passed on the chance to be Cameron Diaz's boyfriend (played by Brett Favre) in the film "There's Something About Mary."

"As funny as it was, I decided that some of the humor was a bit much for me, so I turned down the part," Young wrote.

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Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:45:00 MDTPhotos: Newest addition to S.L.'s skyline opens for businesshttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865663078/Photos-Newest-addition-to-SLs-skyline-opens-for-business.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865663078/Photos-Newest-addition-to-SLs-skyline-opens-for-business.html?pg=all
Salt Lake City's newest office building &#8212; 111 Main &#8212; is seen during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.
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Salt Lake City's newest office building — 111 Main — is seen during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. The 24-story, 440,000-square-foot office tower was opened during a private celebration featuring elected officials, tenants, executives with City Creek Reserve, the building's developer and a real estate arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and church leaders. The building's unique hat-truss design sustains much of the weight of the building from the roof, allowing for minimal columns and floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the city below. The hat-truss design also allows 111 Main to cantilever 47 degrees over the roof of the new George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater. This energy-efficient building is designed to be LEED Gold Certified and includes an in-lobby restaurant and a translucent glass crown that extends 32-feet above the rooftop with a LED lighting system that will make it unmistakable on Salt Lake City’s skyline.]]>
Thu, 22 Sep 2016 15:55:00 MDTCustomers line up for Apple's new iPhone 7http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865662600/Customers-line-up-for-Apples-new-iPhone-7.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865662600/Customers-line-up-for-Apples-new-iPhone-7.html?pg=all
Gill Armenta, left, leaves the Apple Store with his friend, Walker Glover, after buying an iPhone 7 at City Creek Center in...
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Gill Armenta, left, leaves the Apple Store with his friend, Walker Glover, after buying an iPhone 7 at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City on Friday. However, anyone who wanted to buy a jet black iPhone 7 or any color of the iPhone 7 Plus went home empty-handed. Apple told the Associated Press Thursday that only “limited quantities” of the iPhone 7 in black, silver, gold and rose gold would be available at retail stores. The Cupertino, California, tech giant said initial supplies of the iPhone 7 Plus in all colors and the iPhone 7 in jet black sold out during the online preorder period and wouldn't be available for walk-in customers.]]>
Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:23:00 MDTWho is Gary Johnson? Some frustrated Utah voters looking at Libertarian candidatehttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659607/Who-is-Gary-Johnson-Some-frustrated-Utah-voters-looking-at-Libertarian-candidate.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659607/Who-is-Gary-Johnson-Some-frustrated-Utah-voters-looking-at-Libertarian-candidate.html?pg=all
Many Utahns frustrated with the choice of Clinton or Trump as president are taking a look at Gary Johnson, the Libertarian...
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SALT LAKE CITY — Zach and Kayla Bloxham didn't expect to see the presidential candidate they plan to vote for in November grabbing lunch in the City Creek Center food court Saturday.

But there was Libertarian Gary Johnson, digging into a plate of the Red Iguana's fish tacos, chatting with his running mate, William Weld, and campaign staff about the sudden interest in their third-party bid for the White House.

"We've talked about our decision in November and not having a lot of choices," Zach Bloxham said after pointing out the candidate to their daughter, Kinley, 6.

"We like Gary Johnson. He's not Clinton or Trump."

The couple described themselves as Republicans who can't vote for either the Democratic nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, or the GOP's choice, billionaire businessman Donald Trump.

"So we have to find someone as close to our values as possible. And Gary Johnson is as close as it's going to get," Zach Bloxham said. Kayla Bloxham said her husband "can't look Kinley in the eyes and tell her that he voted for Trump."

'Likability factor'

Before posing for a photo with the Bloxham family, Johnson ticked off a series of statistics for a reporter about the ticket's momentum, including reaching 25 million people on Facebook, twice as many as just a few weeks ago.

The former two-term New Mexico governor said he and his running mate, Weld, a former Massachusetts governor, are already close in some polls to the 15 percent level of support they need to be allowed to participate in the upcoming presidential debates.

"That's huge. It's just huge," said Johnson, who arrived at the exclusive Alta Club mid-morning dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers, carrying a backpack and dragging a wheeled carry-on suitcase.

In deference to the day's campaign events — a private gathering for members of the eclectic "Buckshot Caucus" at the club, a rally at the University of Utah and media interviews — he changed into a bright turquoise checked dress shirt.

"For us, there is the likability factor," he said. "And so the more people that get to know us, that should reflect in higher polling. So that's what's happening now. Months ago, yeah, (it was) any third (party) name."

Later, on his way in to the U. Student Union Building, Johnson smiled broadly after hearing they've just received their biggest endorsement yet, from a Republican congressman in Virginia, Rep. Scott Rigell.

Just then, a young volunteer in a Johnson/Weld T-shirt, Meerim Abdrisaeva, recognized the candidate and asked if she could hug him. "I genuinely don't like politicians. But I love you guys," Abdrisaeva said.

Johnson, who earned enough years ago from selling a construction company that he started to focus full-time on politics, said voters may not agree with everything the ticket stands for, but they will respond positively to the candidates themselves.

What he said he expects to hear from voters who disagree with them is, "But you know what, I like them and I think that they're honest. And I think that they have genuine integrity and recognize them for the fact that they have been governors."

The issues

There was plenty of applause for Johnson from the nearly 2,000 students and others gathered to hear him at the U. Saturday, especially for his support of legalizing marijuana, term limits, the Second Amendment and the "judicious" use of the military.

But there were a few boos when he talked about backing school vouchers as governor. And when he said he was sorry for having his "head in the sand" about the Black Lives Matter movement, someone shouted, "All lives matter!"

Within a half-hour, Johnson had gone through a long list of positions that also included his opposition to the death penalty because of the possibility of error and wishing he could replace income tax with a federal consumption tax.

He mentioned Trump only briefly, referring to the wall the GOP candidate has promised to build along the Mexican border as "not the country we are" and calling for it to be made "as easy as possible" for workers to come to the United States.

Johnson stumbled over the Libertarian promise to keep government away from wallets and bedrooms, but summarized the party as "socially agnostic. We're socially accepting. We're socially tolerant. Whatever you are, don't force it on others."

Religious liberty

It's not clear how much appeal Johnson's fiscally conservative but socially liberal stands will have to Utah voters, particularly his view that religious liberty is used as a guise to discriminate.

"A candidate who has expressed reservations about religious liberty is not a perfect fit for Utah," said Chris Karpowitz, co-director of Brigham Young University's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy.

Utahns concerned about the size of the federal government and its control over the state may like what they hear from Johnson about balancing the national budget by cutting programs, Karpowitz said.

But, he said, those same Utahns often hold conservative stands on social issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, marijuana use and the right to resist following a law based on faith that are very different from Johnson's.

"Gary Johnson is unlikely to be the candidate to satisfy them," Karpowitz said, although many Utah voters' dissatisfaction with the Republican and Democratic nominees may mean he gets at least a second look.

"I mean, under the guise of religious freedom, anybody can do anything," Johnson told the Washington Examiner. "Back to Mormonism. Why shouldn't somebody be able to shoot somebody else because their freedom of religion says that God has spoken to them and that they can shoot somebody dead?"

In an op-ed for the Deseret News, Johnson said he is "well aware of the painful history of government interference with Mormons" and praised the state for balancing religious rights and anti-discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people in a 2015 law.

Saturday, Johnson said his "intent was to simply point out that Mormons were subject to religious discrimination" and suggested he could have stated it more clearly. Weld said the statement "was garbled in translation" by the media.

Richard Davis, a BYU political science professor who has served as the Utah County Democratic Party chairman, said Johnson's statements about religious freedom are "going to be a red flag" for many people of faith.

Davis said the more Utahns hear about Johnson's beliefs, "the more they're going to see the fundamental problem of libertarianism for social conservatives," the lack of government involvement in personal behavior.

He said rather than a hands-off approach on "pornography, abortion, gay marriage, all those things not seen as the purview of government," Utahns, "with the influence of the LDS Church, tend to favor a government role to moderate behavior."

'Not kooks'

Still, Utah Libertarian Party Chairman Andrew McCullough sees growing interest in Johnson, who won just over 12,500 votes in the state's 2012 presidential election, a very distant third place.

"There's very, very little doubt he's going to do better this time," McCullough said, even though the state Elections Office reports there are less than 10,100 Libertarians among the state's nearly 1.5 million registered voters.

What's going to win over Utahns, including a chunk of the state's unaffiliated voters who far outnumber Democrats, is their frustration with the other candidates, particularly Trump, McCullough said.

Johnson is "not Donald Trump. I know that sounds flippant but I think that's the No. 1 thing that's going to attract people," McCullough said, because voters see both Libertarians on the ticket as likable.

"Nobody is going to get up and say, 'I hate these guys.' That's what we hear over and over against about the two major party candidates," he said. "Libertarians are kind of considered kooks. But our ticket are not kooks."

Johnson's 1.24 percent finish in 2012 compared to just under 73 percent for the GOP nominee, Utah's adopted favorite son, Mitt Romney, and nearly 25 percent for President Barack Obama, the Democrat on the ballot.

Mitt and marijuana

Romney, who has said he can't bring himself to vote for either Trump or Clinton, may have given Johnson a boost by telling CNN during his annual Deer Valley donor retreat in June that he was taking a look at the Libertarian ticket.

Also a former governor of Massachusetts, Romney said then he wouldn't hesitate to back the ticket if it was Weld running for president and expressed concern about Johnson's stand on marijuana, saying the drug "makes people stupid."

Johnson told The Hill in early June he had used marijuana recreationally as recently as a month ago, but had stopped for the duration of the campaign. He also pledged not to use marijuana if elected.

Late last month, Johnson told CNN that Romney has spoken with him and is considering making an endorsement. Weld told the cable news network they didn't want "to press the point" unless they rise to 15 percent support in the polls.

"He's thinking about it. I talk to Mitt from time to time," Weld said Saturday. He said he expects the Libertarian ticket will reach that level of support this month and "seal the deal" to be part of the September and October debates.

The last third-party candidate to join the Republican and Democratic nominees on the debate stage was Ross Perot in 1992. Perot, an independent, came in second in Utah's presidential election that year, behind then-President George H.W. Bush and ahead of soon-to-be President Bill Clinton.

Utah Democratic Party Chairman Peter Corroon said he believes Johnson could pull off a similar result this November. He said in Utah, Republicans are eager for an alternative to Trump while many Democrats may see Johnson as too liberal.

Still, Corroon said, Johnson is likely to take away votes from both parties in Utah, being described as a swing state in the November election because of the lack of support for Trump among Mormons.

"I think Gary Johnson could come in second here in Utah," the Democratic leader said. "But the bigger question is, who would come in first. It’s a close race."

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Mon, 08 Aug 2016 20:35:00 MDTPhotos: 5 local chefs compete to represent Utah in Great American Seafood Cook-offhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865657490/Photos-5-local-chefs-compete-to-represent-Utah-in-Great-American-Seafood-Cook-off.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865657490/Photos-5-local-chefs-compete-to-represent-Utah-in-Great-American-Seafood-Cook-off.html?pg=all
Five chefs showcase their best seafood dish with the hopes of winning a chance to represent Utah at the 2016 Great American...
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Lhotse Foster and Lorin Smaha, of Freshie's Lobster Company, put the finishing touches on halibut stuffed with lobster while competing to represent Utah in the Great American Seafood Cook-off, at Harmon's City Creek in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. She was one of five chefs who had one hour to prepare and plate a seafood dish for the judges. Logan Crew, executive chef of Current Fish and Oyster in Salt Lake City, earned the right to compete next month against some of the best chefs in the country in New Orleans.]]>
Tue, 05 Jul 2016 17:29:00 MDTSalt Lake City approves 375 foot height limit for Salt Palace hotelhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655803/Salt-Lake-City-approves-375-foot-height-limit-for-Salt-Palace-hotel.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655803/Salt-Lake-City-approves-375-foot-height-limit-for-Salt-Palace-hotel.html?pg=all
The proposed Salt Palace Convention Center hotel may certainly be Salt Lake's next skyscraper, but it won't be the tallest.
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SALT LAKE CITY — The proposed Salt Palace Convention Center hotel may certainly be Salt Lake City's next skyscraper, but it won't be the tallest.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a zoning change on the Salt Palace property between South Temple and 200 South from West Temple to 200 West. The property will now allow construction heights of 375 feet.

Salt Lake County leaders had initially sought to change the zone to allow unlimited building heights to attract a developer to build the convention center hotel, which is estimated to include about 800 rooms.

County officials are considering at least two sites within the Salt Palace property for the hotel, including land now occupied by the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.

Last month, high-rise residents living in City Creek Living's 99 West apartments directly across the street from that site expressed concerns that a skyscraper hotel would block their views and reduce property values.

A second site under consideration is on the northwest corner of the intersection of 200 South and West Temple.

In its decision Tuesday night, however, the City Council included intent that Salt Lake County officials "thoroughly explore" locating the hotel near the southeast corner of the Salt Palace Convention Center.

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Tue, 07 Jun 2016 23:20:00 MDTSalt Lake's next skyscraper? Proposed hotel sites worry some high-rise residentshttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655278/Salt-Lakes-next-skyscraper-Proposed-hotel-sites-worry-some-high-rise-residents.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655278/Salt-Lakes-next-skyscraper-Proposed-hotel-sites-worry-some-high-rise-residents.html?pg=all
Two sites on Salt Palace property are currently under consideration for a new convention center hotel, and to accommodate its...
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SALT LAKE CITY — When Bill Robbins stands on his 21st-floor, 99th West condo balcony downtown, he can see miles to the west.

His view: the Oquirrh Mountains. The sprawl of downtown Salt Lake City. An overlook of the Salt Palace and the newly renovated Abravanel Hall plaza.

Prices for a City Creek Living, 99 West two-bedroom condo range between $760,000 and more than $1.6 million. The higher the floor and grander the view, the higher the price.

It's the promise of spectacular views that attracts residents willing to pay for high-rise living, Robbins said. But Friday, as he looked out from his balcony, he worried about what would happen if another skyscraper were to be built directly across the street.

"All of that would just be lost," he said. "This building would be completely covered. To the west, we would see nothing."

And it's not just that, said Wayne Hilbig, president of the 99 West Home Owner's Association. Property values could fall, City Creek parking and traffic could thicken, quality of life could wane.

It's a concern Hilbig and Robbins share with about 110 other west-facing 99 West residents, and their worries grow as Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County leaders inch closer to choosing a site for the new Salt Palace Convention Center hotel.

That's because two sites within the Salt Palace property, across the street from the 99 West condos, are currently under consideration.

One is on the northwest corner of the intersection of 200 South and West Temple. The other is land currently occupied by the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art south of the Abravanel Hall plaza, directly across the street from the City Creek Living 99 West condominiums.

Hilbig and Robbins worry if the hotel is built there, it would dwarf Abravanel Hall and shadow all the west-facing 99 West residences, all while setting a nerve-wracking precedent for the rest of the Salt Palace property.

No height limits?

In order to accommodate for the potential new hotel, which is required by legislation to be positioned no more than 1,000 feet away from the Salt Palace, county leaders have requested Salt Lake City remove its height limits on the property between South Temple and 200 South from West Temple to 200 West.

And so far, since negotiations are still ongoing between Salt Lake County and the developer, DDRM Cos. of Sandy, there's no telling how large of a shadow the hotel could cast, wherever it's built.

Current zoning in that area caps regular building heights at 75 feet and 120 feet for specially approved projects.

The tallest building in Salt Lake City's skyline is currently the Wells Fargo Center, 299 S. Main, towering at 422 feet high.

Hilbig and Robbins — and some city leaders — speculate that the new convention hotel, expected to include at least 800 rooms while being built on a smaller parcel of land than the 775-room Grand America Hotel, could very well become Salt Lake's tallest skyscraper.

"I'm not averse to that," Hilbig noted. "But if it's 60 feet away from our building, it would severely affect our owners in a negative way."

The 99 West building stands at roughly 375 feet.

As downtown residents, Hilbig and Robbins said they're not opposed to the hotel, only the selection of a site that could have a negative effect on residents who never expected a building would surpass the city's current height limits in that entire area.

"We enjoy the vitality of downtown. We're not opposed to new developments," Hilbig added. "But we do know that if a 800-room hotel is built directly across the street, it could be a big problem. And I'm not just concerned about one hotel going there. If they eliminate the (height limits) in that whole area, who knows would could be done."

Approval process

Salt Lake County began seeking a hotel developer in 2012 to build the hotel in order to put Utah's capital on the map as a destination to accommodate large conventions, like the Outdoor Retailer trade show that takes over the Salt Palace twice a year.

Partnering with the state and Salt Lake City, the county developed a $75 million tax incentive to attract a developer.

After initial negotiations with a first developer, Omni Hotels, fell through last year, the county entered new negotiations with DDRM, the same firm that helped develop the St. Regis Hotel in Deer Valley.

"We're working really closely with the developer and we're hoping within the next couple of months to try to finalize negotiations," said Erin Litvack, Salt Lake County Community Services director. Those negotiations would include a selected site, a general concept of design and size, and roughly when construction would start, she said.

Litvack noted that "there are potentially even more" than the two Salt Palace sites being considered, but she said she couldn't identify them without breaching the confidentiality of negotiations with the developer.

Litvack explained that the county's request to re-zone the Salt Palace property to have unlimited building heights was part of keeping all possibilities on the table for the hotel, since it's not yet certain how tall the building could turn out to be.

Litvack said there is still a lot that needs to be sorted out before finalizing any site or design plans for the hotel, but as it plays out, county leaders will "respect our community members' concerns."

"Our community is evolving and growing all the time," she said. "Part of living in an urban area are developments, but how it plays out is part of this public process, so it's important to listen to those concerns and take them into consideration as we move forward."

City deliberations

The City Council on Tuesday decided to wait before voting on the county's unlimited height rezoning request, wanting to first know more about the hotel's proposed site or design.

"I think the term 'unlimited height' makes people a little nervous because what does that mean, exactly? I mean, are we building a hotel to the moon?" said Councilman Derek Kitchen, whose district includes downtown. "It's hard to just arbitrarily open up unlimited height when we're not entirely sure what that will provide us down the road."

However, Kitchen said he's "not opposed" to adjusting the height on the Salt Palace property to allow the hotel to be constructed on one of those two sites, once he gets more information about the hotel design proposals. He added the possibility that the hotel's height could surpass the city's current tallest building "isn't off the table."

To him, height isn't the issue, he said. Appearance, quality and continuity with the rest of downtown is.

"Downtown is the place for height, for high density and tall buildings," he said. "But there's just so much that needs to be figured out before we have a real understanding of what it could look like it. Once we have more details, I'd be interested in approving that zoning change."

The Utah Contemporary Museum of Art site — the same site that worries west-facing 99 West residents the most — seems appealing to Kitchen because of its proximity to the Salt Palace.

"It would connect directly into the convention center," he said. "So there's reason to imagine why building a hotel on the convention center site would be a good idea. Yet at the same time, I'm not opposed to it being off-site, as long as it's within a close proximity."

Kitchen said once the county and developer can reveal more details, he will then work with the City Council to schedule more opportunities for public feedback on the issue.

Litvack said the county is "open" to discussions about changing the rezoning language to have a specific height rather than allowing an "unlimited" height, and all site possibilities are still on the table.

It's unclear exactly when negotiations between the county and developer will finalize more details on the hotel, Litvack said, but she's expecting it should happen within the next couple of months.